When Star Wars Battlefront 2 originally released, it was met with at best lackluster enthusiasm. For those too young to remember, the original Star Wars Battlefront games were best-in-class first-person shooters that allowed players to experience one of the world’s most popular franchises on the strategic front of war.
Yes, they were first-person shooters, but they were more than just games that lived within predefined genre tropes. They allowed people an immersive experience of living and fighting in the world of Star Wars.
Star Wars Battlefront 2, when it originally released, was noted for its rewarding and well-developed campaigns that allowed you to not just blast away at stormtroopers, but sit in the driver’s seat for a multistage, ongoing fight against the Empire. When word that these games would be remade first hit the scene, fans were naturally excited. A classic game in modern graphics – what could be better?
The ultimate result couldn’t quite excite and delight. Why then is Star Wars Battlefront 2 having a moment 8 years after its initial release? Let’s get into it.
Understanding Initial Disappointment
First, it’s important to understand why fans met the original 2017 release with disappointment. The issue was not exactly that the game was bad, but merely that it didn’t live up to its namesake. For all of the special and exciting things that the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 was, what we had here was a much more modern EA video game. That’s to say, thousands of people paid $60 for a game that was less than half finished. Limited maps, limited character options, limited everything.
Slowly, and over the course of several years, that began to change. EA added more maps, more characters, and more ways to play. Quietly, Star Wars Battlefront 2 became a much more comprehensive gaming experience. Still not quite the game of the early 2000s, but certainly a much less disappointing alternative.
Here’s the thing—by the time this game got good, most people had already moved on. That’s one of the main issues with the modern developmental cycle. Look at a game like No Man’s Sky. When originally released, the game did not in any way live up to expectations. It did get better, but only years after the initial wave of fans had moved on to new things.
No Man’s Sky did, of course, eventually find its audience. But you know the saying. You catch more flies with honey. You catch more gamers with good initial releases.
Battlefront 2, despite its updates, might have been all but forgotten were it not for a sort of Spring Re-awakening that took place in May of 2025.
2025 Explosion
A confluence of factors contributed to the recent rise in popularity of Star Wars Battlefront. To begin with, an interest in Star Wars-related content has been spiking for several reasons.
For one thing, Andor Season 2 was recently released. The show is widely considered one of the best developments since Disney took over the IP.
In a world of Star Wars fatigue, it was a refreshing breath of air that brought many people back to the franchise.
Add to this the recirculation of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The movie, for its 20th anniversary, had a theatrical re-release that was notably popular and brought even more attention to the franchise.
At the same time, Star Wars Battlefront II was heavily discounted on Steam and other streaming platforms. All of a sudden, a genuinely good game was on sale at a time when people had a heightened interest in it.
Maybe also worth mentioning is the fact that the original Star Wars Battlefront games had been re-released earlier this year to some disappointment.
The ports were a bit clunky across platforms, and so there was an unsatisfied itch that the remake was uniquely able to scratch.
Now, eight years after its original debut, it is finally accomplishing what fans wanted from it the first time around. A new and improved take on an already beloved game.
The Perfect Summer Gaming Experience
Games like Battlefront are best enjoyed in moments like this, when they are popular and well-populated. You have lots of choices for how to spend your time in the summer. Social gatherings. Outdoor experiences. Online YouBet.com promotions for betting opportunities on MLB, the WNBA, and more.
Certainly, you should take advantage of all of those opportunities. However, if you love first-person shooters, you should also carve out a little time for a well-regarded classic that is finally having its moment.
Star Wars has long been making a virtual splash in the world of video gaming. The resurgence of Battlefront 2 is an unexpected continuation of a long-ago-established tradition. Now is your time to get in on the fun.
